Collective Soul
Hints, Allegations & Things Left Unsaid
1993 Atlantic Records
Produced By: Ed Roland
album cover
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disc
Track Listings
Goodnight, Good Guy (3:35)
Wasting Time (3:27) (video)
Sister Don't Cry (3:32)
Love Lifted Me (3:48)
In a Moment (3:53)
Heaven's Already Here (2:13)
Pretty Donna (instrumental) (1:58)
Reach (4:21)
Breathe (3:03)
Scream (3:00)
Burning Bridges (3:36)
All (3:29)
Musicians
Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard: Ed Roland
Guitar: Dean Roland
Guitar: Ross Childress
Bass, Percussion: Will Turpin
Drums, Percussion: Shane Evans
Growing up I didn't listen to a lot of music...that is outside of riding around in my dad's truck. He was a fan of country music, so most of what my ears were turned on to was the likes of Kenny Rogers, the Oakridge Boys and Alabama. While I still enjoy those artists and that type of music, it's all I knew at that point in life. As I grew older my oldest brother started to work in Christian retail and thus my introduction to more of a variety of music. While it was never frowned upon by my parents, I just didn't listen to "secular" music that often.
As I made my way to High School of course that starte to change a bit. My friends would talk about music and music videos they saw on MTV. One of these bads was Collective Soul shortly after their single, Shine, had been picked up my radio and of course the video on MTV.
Their sound was different than what I had heard before. I was listening to Stryper, Crystavox, Rage of Angels, Guardian and the likes. I didn't listen to Nirvana or Bush so I wasn't familiar with this new sound of rock that was starting to take over. While on a youth retreat in Gatlingburg, TN with my church, I sought out a record store in town and purchased this CD. I believe it was my first secular album I purchased with my own money at the time. Yes, laugh all you want but it's true.
Collective Soul's debut album quickly became one of my favorites, finding a near permanant place in the CD wallet I kept in my truck. Originally there were a few tracks that I didn't care for, but as I've grown and with repeated listens I now can say I enjoy every track on the album.
I know that Ed and Dean are the sons of a pastor so of course their upbringing has influenced their songwriting. While I don't explicitly know what their beliefs are, I tend to find more positive meanings in their songs than negative. Perhaps this is a reason I became such a fan of the band in the first place? The liner notes don't mention what went into the writing of the songs, but from what I remember reading/hearing in the past I've come to think the following:
Reach
Should I thirst for knowledge
Can I beg you for some water
Should I fight your battles
Can I rest upon your shoulders
I hope I'm able to ride out this storm
So come on Gabriel and blow your horn
Reach, reach out to me
Can't you see that I need you to save me
Yeah, reach, reach out to me
can't you see that I need you to save me
Guitar: Dean Roland
Guitar: Ross Childress
Bass, Percussion: Will Turpin
Drums, Percussion: Shane Evans
Growing up I didn't listen to a lot of music...that is outside of riding around in my dad's truck. He was a fan of country music, so most of what my ears were turned on to was the likes of Kenny Rogers, the Oakridge Boys and Alabama. While I still enjoy those artists and that type of music, it's all I knew at that point in life. As I grew older my oldest brother started to work in Christian retail and thus my introduction to more of a variety of music. While it was never frowned upon by my parents, I just didn't listen to "secular" music that often.
As I made my way to High School of course that starte to change a bit. My friends would talk about music and music videos they saw on MTV. One of these bads was Collective Soul shortly after their single, Shine, had been picked up my radio and of course the video on MTV.
Their sound was different than what I had heard before. I was listening to Stryper, Crystavox, Rage of Angels, Guardian and the likes. I didn't listen to Nirvana or Bush so I wasn't familiar with this new sound of rock that was starting to take over. While on a youth retreat in Gatlingburg, TN with my church, I sought out a record store in town and purchased this CD. I believe it was my first secular album I purchased with my own money at the time. Yes, laugh all you want but it's true.
Collective Soul's debut album quickly became one of my favorites, finding a near permanant place in the CD wallet I kept in my truck. Originally there were a few tracks that I didn't care for, but as I've grown and with repeated listens I now can say I enjoy every track on the album.
I know that Ed and Dean are the sons of a pastor so of course their upbringing has influenced their songwriting. While I don't explicitly know what their beliefs are, I tend to find more positive meanings in their songs than negative. Perhaps this is a reason I became such a fan of the band in the first place? The liner notes don't mention what went into the writing of the songs, but from what I remember reading/hearing in the past I've come to think the following:
Reach
Should I thirst for knowledge
Can I beg you for some water
Should I fight your battles
Can I rest upon your shoulders
I hope I'm able to ride out this storm
So come on Gabriel and blow your horn
Reach, reach out to me
Can't you see that I need you to save me
Yeah, reach, reach out to me
can't you see that I need you to save me
To me this song sounds like it's from a man who's faith may be wavering a bit, calling out to one of God's messengers (Gabriel). His plea is for God to reach out and save him.
Sister Don't Cry
Overseas through the air
Touched your heart down with care
All the thoughts left behind
Soon will catch you in time
Well, if I could, you know I would
Let salvation reign on you
So, won't you push away
All this pain that you've been through
Yeah, sister don't cry
Sister don't cry no more
Sister don't cry anymore
I've heard Ed say that this song was written for someone he knew that was being treated for cancer and going through treatment. It was a song meant to help restore their faith in God that He would see them through this tough time in their life.
Shine
Give me a word
Give me a sign
Show me where to look
Tell me what will I find
Lay me on the ground
Fly me in the sky
Show me where to look
Tell me what will I find
Oh, Heaven let your light shine down
Love is in the water
Love is in the air
Show me where to go
Tell me will love be there
Teach me how to speak
Teach me how to share
Tell me where to go
Tell me will love be there
Oh, Heaven let your light shine down
Depending on who you ask this song may or may not have religious overtones. For me at least I interpret the lyrics as some searching for love, searching for guidance in this crazy world we live in. Ultimately this love is only found in the Father who is shining his light down from above. Regardless of what Ed meant when he wrote this song, I love the guitar solo midway through the song. Still holds up in 2017 as one of the greatest rock songs.
Despite your feelings on this band and what their believes may or may not be, Collective Soul is a great band and their debut album is in my opinion, a work of art. The album is 24 years as of this post, but still holds up against anything on the radio today.
Sister Don't Cry
Overseas through the air
Touched your heart down with care
All the thoughts left behind
Soon will catch you in time
Well, if I could, you know I would
Let salvation reign on you
So, won't you push away
All this pain that you've been through
Yeah, sister don't cry
Sister don't cry no more
Sister don't cry anymore
I've heard Ed say that this song was written for someone he knew that was being treated for cancer and going through treatment. It was a song meant to help restore their faith in God that He would see them through this tough time in their life.
Shine
Give me a word
Give me a sign
Show me where to look
Tell me what will I find
Lay me on the ground
Fly me in the sky
Show me where to look
Tell me what will I find
Oh, Heaven let your light shine down
Love is in the water
Love is in the air
Show me where to go
Tell me will love be there
Teach me how to speak
Teach me how to share
Tell me where to go
Tell me will love be there
Oh, Heaven let your light shine down
Depending on who you ask this song may or may not have religious overtones. For me at least I interpret the lyrics as some searching for love, searching for guidance in this crazy world we live in. Ultimately this love is only found in the Father who is shining his light down from above. Regardless of what Ed meant when he wrote this song, I love the guitar solo midway through the song. Still holds up in 2017 as one of the greatest rock songs.
Despite your feelings on this band and what their believes may or may not be, Collective Soul is a great band and their debut album is in my opinion, a work of art. The album is 24 years as of this post, but still holds up against anything on the radio today.
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